QuADS NRT

Quantitative Analysis of Dynamic Structures

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, DGE 1922639

Overview

Quantitative Analysis of Dynamic Structures (QuADS) promotes research and training in data-intensive X-ray characterization and simulation of material structure and dynamics at Stony Brook University. Select students may receive one-year fellowships to support their graduate training.

Become a QuADS NRT Trainee

The QuADS NRT is an NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program that is part of NSF’s major initiative to develop innovative graduate education curricula and prepare future leaders in STEM. We are one of 85 NSF NRTs in the US across all disciplines and one of 17 awarded nationwide in 2019.

The program is open to Ph.D. students in Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Material Science and Chemical Engineering, and Geoscience.

What Do QuADS NRT Trainees Do?

  • Perform interdisciplinary research on polymers, biomaterials, metal oxides, nanoparticles, and colloids in one or more of the participating research groups

  • Contribute to the development of new methods of data analysis and novel materials applications: Wound dressings, drug delivery, advanced coatings, catalysis, energy storage, and separations

  • Attend a summer school on cutting-edge X-ray and simulation techniques

  • Receive training and mentoring in scientific communication and career planning

Benefits and Opportunities

  • Domestic students (US citizens and permanent residents) can compete for one-year fellowships, $34,000 stipend plus support for fees

  • All students who qualify can apply for funds to support travel to conferences, new research directions, workshops, and professional development

  • Interact with a community of students through interdisciplinary meetings

  • Network with visiting industry professionals through industry seminars

  • Participate in internships in industry and at Brookhaven National Laboratory

Am I Eligible?

In order to be eligible, you must meet the following criteria at the time of nomination:

  • be a Ph.D. student in good standing in the Department of Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Material Science and Chemical Engineering, or Geoscience at Stony Brook University

  • be a member of one of the participating research groups

  • while only US citizens and permanent residents can receive fellowships, all students who meet the above criteria can participate in NRT training activities

Come be a part of our vibrant research community!


Research Highlights

ACS Conference

Lee Tsapatsaris from the Toga Lab presented his work on "Cell-biomaterial viability investigation via self-assembled nanopatterns of block copolymer films" at the ACS Spring 2022 Meeting in San Diego, CA. The study included the use of various techniques such as SEM and fluorescent microscopy to examine polystyrene/poly-methyl methacrylate block copolymer surfaces after self-assembly and cell adsorption.

Graduate Awards

  • Monty Crosby from the Khalifah lab won the 2022 Chemistry Award for Outstanding Doctoral Student in The Department of Chemistry. Congratulations, Monty!

  • Jason Loprete won the university's 2022 President's Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student. Congratulations, Jason!

Monty Cosby from the Khalifah Lab uses Operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies to reveal irregularities and dead spots due to incomplete lithium stripping from anode during battery discharge. Their work was featured in the Brookhaven National Laboratory Newsroom and published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society in February 2022.

Congratulations to Stony Brook University's Evan Lammertse on winning the 15th Northeast Complex Fluids and Soft Matter (NCS15) Workshop's best Soundbite award sponsored by QuADS NRT!

Madani Khan recently won our NRT Poster Award at SBU's 2021 Chemistry Research Day on October 29! Congratulations, Madani!


Arthur Ronne from the Chen-Weigart group published their work in Nature Communications entitled “Formation of three-dimensional bicontinuous structures via molten salt dealloying studied in real-time by in situ synchrotron X-ray nano-tomography” in June 2021. (Learn more)

Daniel Salatto from the Koga Lab publishes XPCS work on polymer nanocomposite in ACS Nano entitled "Collective Nanoparticle Dynamics Associated with Bridging Network Formation in Model Polymer Nanocomposites." (Learn more)

  • Mitchell Kennedy from the Bhatia Lab publishes research on the in situ mineralization of calcium phosphate nanocomposites in block copolymer hydrogels in the Wiley Journal, Polymers for Advanced Technologies. (Learn more)

  • Monty Cosby from the Khalifah Lab writes python code that enables on-the-fly Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data during synchrotron powder diffraction experiments as well as the automated plotting and fitting of refinement parameters. This allows reaction rate data to be monitored in real time during experiments (rather than weeks or months later, as was previously the case) and the experiment design to be dynamically changed and optimized based on this analysis. This new program was successfully used to guide in situ ion-exchange experiments at the APS synchrotron in October 2020.